Said the Owl: "It's a marvel! I never have heard Of such a gigantic, impossible bird." Said the Vulture: "Its wings are of awkward design, But as big as a hundred, a thousand, of mine." Said the Swallow: "It's one of the funniest things, For often I've seen it with two pairs of wings." Said the Thrush: "What a clatter and whir are its cries! And it won't sing a note except when it flies." Said the Eagle: "It climbs most amazingly high; I've met it a mile or more up in the sky." Said the Buzzard: "It soars with a beautiful grace, And it curves and it dives at a wonderful pace." Said the Duck: "I have seen one afloat on the sea, That rose from the water exactly like me." Said the Hawk: "It's astounding! Again and again I've seen the bird capture and carry off -- men!" "But sometimes it tumbles," the Whippoorwill said, "And lies on the ground like a bundle of lead." "And one," said the Crane, "with a terrible sound Exploded, and fell, and afire, to the ground." "Dear me!" said they all, "what a puzzling affair! It's the queerest of creatures that fly in the air!" |